Municipal Politics

[Corndogger]

Originally Posted by suburbia

Sure happy that while other mayoral / yyccc candidates are focused on attacking others, Nenshi continues to put out thoughtful policy and proposals.

https://twitter.com/Jason_Ribeiro/status/907277480909611008

Now he's all in favor of building a new arena. This isn't thoughtful policy and proposals. It's flip flopping and throwing ideas against the wall to see what we'll stick. If he was serious about a cultural and entertainment district he would have proposed doing so years ago not six weeks before an election.

[suburbia]

Originally Posted by Corndogger

Now he's all in favor of building a new arena. This isn't thoughtful policy and proposals. It's flip flopping and throwing ideas against the wall to see what we'll stick. If he was serious about a cultural and entertainment district he would have proposed doing so years ago not six weeks before an election.

He's been 100% consistent on this file. NEXT was an unthoughtful non-starter in the West Village.

Anyway, please continue to spend your large budget on trying to win by attacking others. It is enjoyable to watch.

[suburbia]

Nenshi media scrum August 29
• Video Link

Nenshi media scrum September 5
• Video Link

Nenshi regarding Amazon
• Video Link

Nenshi media scrum September 11
• Video Link

[suburbia]

Just saw this pitch for a more integrated Culture and Entertainment District featuring Jon Cornish, former CFL all-star, Stampeders highlight reel and amazing Calgarian:

• Video Link

I'm not sure if they had an insider leak anything, but it seems Save Calgary had a response video ready to go:

• Video Link

[CrossedTheTracks]

Originally Posted by suburbia

He's been 100% consistent on this file. NEXT was an unthoughtful non-starter in the West Village.

100% consistent? The amount of enthusiasm he is now showing for Vic Park is leaps and bounds above the ambiguity and ambivalence he's expressed over the last two years.

Rather than a hard-nosed, skeptical, objective approach that he has taken over this time, he's now a full-fledged proponent. Perhaps these difference stances are appropriate, maybe even commendable, as "mayor" vs. "election candidate" personas. In any case, I'm a bit surprised. I doubt I'm alone.

[You Need A Thneed]

Originally Posted by CrossedTheTracks

100% consistent? The amount of enthusiasm he is now showing for Vic Park is leaps and bounds above the ambiguity and ambivalence he's expressed over the last two years.

Rather than a hard-nosed, skeptical, objective approach that he has taken over this time, he's now a full-fledged proponent. Perhaps these difference stances are appropriate, maybe even commendable, as "mayor" vs. "election candidate" personas. In any case, I'm a bit surprised. I doubt I'm alone.

Yes, he has always been about "public money for public gain", which remains today. To date, no group has proposed an arena that comes even remotely close to that.

[CrossedTheTracks]

Originally Posted by You Need A Thneed

Yes, he has always been about "public money for public gain", which remains today. To date, no group has proposed an arena that comes even remotely close to that.

Yes, I agree he's been consistent with that refrain -- and I agree with him!

[suburbia]

Mayor Nenshi speaks to journalists about arena / Flames choosing to move away from the table

• Video Link

[suburbia]

This is the best mayoral candidate website to date:
http://www.movingcalgaryforward.ca/

[MalcolmTucker]

• Video Link

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XWI2GSc7ivc

[suburbia]

I found there was a pinch less BS at the non-profit-voice mayoral forum:
https://twitter.com/AnnaliseAK/status/913133345386651648

[suburbia]

I found this interesting. Leading sports reporter for TSN and the Toronto Star just endorsed Nenshi. Are there leading personalities outside of politics endorsing Bill Smith?

https://twitter.com/bruce_arthur/status/913387537980370944

Think it says a lot when people in other jurisdictions are interested in what happens in Calgary. Just reinforces how Nenshi has upped the city's game and it is now much more known (and for positive things other than cows rodeos) elsewhere.

[patm]

God I hate commenting on political issues on Facebook but reading the comments under articles relating to Nenshi is impossible.

People make mountains out of mole hills with their Nenshi hate.

Bike lanes and Bad art are their main reasons for not liking him but those are literally footnotes on the overall budget. Then they complain about tax hikes but Calgary still has some of the lowest municipal taxes out of the major cities in Canada.

The real reason they don't like Nenshi is that he is clearly Left of Center which in Alberta is still the devil for a lot of stuck in there ways Albertans. Luckily, they're out numbered.

[suburbia]

Originally Posted by patm

The real reason they don't like Nenshi is that he is clearly Left of Center which in Alberta is still the devil for a lot of stuck in there ways Albertans.

I disagree with this. I believe he is actually quite fiscally conservative, while also being socially progressive. That's why the Canadian party spectrum doesn't apply to him, as for some reason, people tie together fiscal and social conservatism / progressiveness to the same right and left. If anything, he is anti-party, rather, is focused on what I term "smart solutions".

[patm]

Originally Posted by suburbia

I disagree with this. I believe he is actually quite fiscally conservative, while also being socially progressive. That's why the Canadian party spectrum doesn't apply to him, as for some reason, people tie together fiscal and social conservatism / progressiveness to the same right and left. If anything, he is anti-party, rather, is focused on what I term "smart solutions".

Oh I should have specified that socially he is left leaning. That's all that your right wing "libertard" crowd see. They then pick the most asinine of issues to grab on to as the reason why he has to go without actually suggesting why they are a problem and which candidate would improve these issues.

[240glt]

My sister is a reporter for the CBC in Calgary, last night she told me that the general consensus that they're hearing is that this arena fiasco is going to push Nenshi, whose popularity had been waning, back to a strong victory

[Chinook Arch]

Originally Posted by 240glt

My sister is a reporter for the CBC in Calgary, last night she told me that the general consensus that they're hearing is that this arena fiasco is going to push Nenshi, whose popularity had been waning, back to a strong victory

Well, it is the CBC so I wouldn't put too much stock into it. Left wing media types preach to the choir, and only listen to the same choir.

Nenshi probably will win, but only because of the lack of good opposition, and if it becomes a two man race he might not win at all.

[suburbia]

Originally Posted by patm

Oh I should have specified that socially he is left leaning. That's all that your right wing "libertard" crowd see. They then pick the most asinine of issues to grab on to as the reason why he has to go without actually suggesting why they are a problem and which candidate would improve these issues.

Agree with that.

[suburbia]

Originally Posted by Chinook Arch

Well, it is the CBC so I wouldn't put too much stock into it. Left wing media types preach to the choir, and only listen to the same choir.

LOL! So any media outlet that Ken and his overlords do not have direct control over are immediately smeared as "left wing"?

Ken used to be publisher of the Sun and the Herald, and the owners are also well connected with Shaw / Global. I've personally been involved with a scenario where an item wasn't getting picked up. Ken picked up the phone, dialed the Herald editorial team, and a reporter was on it within an hour.

This media BS that you're trying to actually use against Nenshi will always be exposed, and it comes around and bites the billionaires even worse. The challenge the Billionaire staff and bots have is that they are too thick headed to get it. Keep going. The Jujitsu masters was having fun!

#NeoCitranHaze

Small suggestion. Recruiting good people takes time. It is never too early to start scoping out for head of Calgary Sports & Entertainment.

[McMurph]

The fact that Bill Smith's only specific policy so far is to pretend to halt a project well underway in order to court a few well-healed supporters is somewhat galling. Nenshi can be irritating but he is at least able to articulate policy. His initial victory was also against well-financed individuals who walked into a race with believing that they barely needed even to show up to win.

So yeah, blame the lack of a strong alternative. Then ask yourself why it is that no one else seems willing to show leadership. Generally speaking, cities ought to be socially progressive and fiscally conservative. It would appear to be hard to craft a policy-based platform out of anything else.